Royals with jobs: What do the world’s working royals do?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to earn a professional income and step back as senior royals sent shockwaves through the UK establishment when it was announced last week.
However, now with the Queen’s blessing, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are on track to seek out the jobs they suit them best.
While Burger King and Budweiser have both cheekily approached Prince Harry as potential employers, Markle has signed a voiceover contract with Disney.
And, the two could also earn a salary through their as-yet undisclosed charitable foundation, or could make millions on the speaking circuit.
But if these myriad pathways aren’t of interest, they could take their cue from the other royals with professional jobs.
Princess Eugenie, UK - company director
Working royals aren’t uncommon within the UK royal family. Princess Eugenie, daughter of Prince Andrew and Prince Sarah, works at art gallery Hauser & Wirth as director. She’s been at the company since 2015 and has described her job as “planning special projects, supporting the artists in the gallery and managing events”.
Princess Beatrice, UK - strategist
Eugenie’s older sister, Princess Beatrice, works in business. She undertook an internship at Sony Pictures and now works as a strategist at software firm Afiniti.
Princess Märtha Louise, Norway - author and entrepreneur
The Norwegian princess has had a controversial career history. The oldest child of King Harald V, Märtha Louise gave up her royal title in 2002 to focus on having a professional career.
However, she later used her title in a series of seminars with her boyfriend, shaman Durek Verrett. The seminars were titled ‘The Princess and the Shaman’, leading to criticisms that she was using the title for profit.
“The fact that I used princess in the title of my tour, I have said before that I am very sorry, and I still stand by that. It was a mistake and I understand that it provokes when the princess title is used this way,” Märtha Louise later apologised on her Instagram.
Prince Nikolai, Denmark - model
The 20-year-old son of Prince Joachim of Denmark is 7th in line for the throne and earns an income as a model for the likes of Dior and Burberry. He receives no income from the crown beyond education fees.
Christopher O’Neill, Sweden - financier
The husband of Princess Madeleine, daughter of King Carl XVI of Sweden, British-American Christopher O’Neill does not use a royal title and works as a financier. His children will also not receive taxpayer funds after the king decided to “clarify the expectations” around who was acting as the official representatives of the royal family.
King Emmanuel Bushayija, Rwanda - security boss
King Emmanuel was named king in 2017 after the country’s former monarch King Kigeli died in exile.
“The Rwandan Royal Council of Abiru hereby informs all Rwandans and friends of Rwanda that in keeping with the ancient custom, it has acclaimed His Royal Highness Prince Emmanuel Bushayija as the successor of his late majesty,” the edict issued by Rwanda read, making Bushayija, the director of a UK security firm, king.
King Willem-Alexander, Netherlands - airline pilot
King Willem-Alexander works as a commercial pilot with KLM, although he considers it as more of a hobby than a job.
Princess Laurentien and Prince Constantijn, Netherlands - policy
The brother and sister-in-law of the king both hold down jobs, with Constantijn at RAND Corporation in Europe, and at the Netherland Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Laurentien was designated the UNESCO Special Envoy on literacy development in 2009.
Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece - fashion designer
The Greek crown princess is also a designer, having launched her eponymous children’s label. Marie-Chantal said she launched the idea due to a lack of luxury children’s clothing.
“When I was pregnant with my third child I started Marie-Chantal because it was the type of brand that I needed as a mother for my children,” the princess told Vogue.
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